found a little trouble before now。 As it is； he must be watched。
If any one comes between me and the things for which I am scheming
to…day； they will risk death。〃
Mrs。 Fentolin sighed。 She was watching the figures of Esther and
Hamel far away in the distance； picking their way across the last
strip of marshland which lay between them and the sea。
〃Miles；〃 she said earnestly； 〃 you take advice from no one。 You
will go your own way； I know。 And yet； it seems to me that life
holds so many compensations for you without your taking these
terrible risks。 I am not thinking of any one else。 I am not
pleading to you for the sake of any one else。 I am thinking
only of yourself。 I have had a sort of feeling ever since this
man was brought into the house； that trouble would come of it。 To
me the trouble seems to be gathering even now。〃
Mr。 Fentolin laughed softly； a little contemptuously。
〃Presentiments；〃 he scoffed； 〃are the excuses of cowards。 Don't be
afraid； Florence。 Remember always that I look ahead。 Do you think
that I could stay here contented with what you call my compensations
… my art； the study of beautiful things； the calm epicureanism of
the sedate and simple life？ You know very well that I could not do
that。 The craving for other things is in my heart and blood。 The
excitement which I cannot have in one way； I must find in another；
and I think that before many nights have passed； I shall lie on my
pillow and hear the guns roar； hear the footsteps of the great
armies of the world moving into battle。 It is for that I live；
Florence。〃
She took up her knitting again。 Her eyes were fixed upon the
sky…line。 Twice she opened her lips； but twice no words came。
〃You understand？〃 he whispered。 〃You begin to understand； don't
you？〃
She looked at him only for a moment and back at her work。
〃I suppose so；〃 she sighed。
CHAPTER XX
In the middle of that night Hamel sat up in bed； awakened with a
sudden start by some sound； only the faintest echo of which remained
in his consciousness。 His nerves were tingling with a sense of
excitement。 He sat up in bed and listened。 Suddenly it came again
… a long； low moan of pain； stifled at the end as though repressed
by some outside agency。 He leaped from his bed； hurried on a few
clothes； and stepped out on to the landing。 The cry had seemed
to him to come from the further end of the long corridor … in the
direction； indeed； of the room where Mr。 Dunster lay。 He made his
way there； walking on tiptoe； although his feet fell noiselessly
upon the thick carpet。 A single light was burning from a bracket
in the wall； insufficient to illuminate the empty spaces； but enough
to keep him from stumbling。 The corridor towards the south end
gradually widened； terminating in a splendid high window with
stained glass； a broad seat； and a table。 On the right； the end
room was Mr。 Dunster's apartment； and on the left a flight of
stairs led to the floor above。 Hamel stood quite still； listening。
There was a light in the room； as he could see from under the door；
but there was no sound of any one moving。 Hamel listened intently；
every sense strained。 Then the sound of a stair creaking behind
diverted his attention。 He looked quickly around。 Gerald was
descending。 The boy's face was white； and his eyes were filled
with fear。 Hamel stepped softly back from the door and met him at
the foot of the stairs。
〃Did you hear that cry？〃 he whispered。
Gerald nodded。
〃It woke me up。 What do you suppose it was？〃 Hamel shook his head。
〃Some one in pain；〃 he replied。 〃I don't understand it。 It came
from this room。〃
〃You know who sleeps there？〃 Gerald asked hoarsely。
Hamel nodded。
〃A man with concussion of the brain doesn't cry out like that。
Besides； did you hear the end of it？ It sounded as though some one
were choking him。 Hush！〃
They had spoken only in bated breath； but the door of the room
before which they were standing was suddenly opened。 Meekins stood
there； fully dressed； his dark； heavy face full of somber warning。
He started a little as he saw the two whispering together。 Gerald
addressed him almost apologetically。
〃We both heard the same sound； Meekins。 Is any one ill？ It sounded
like some one in pain。〃
The man hesitated。 Then from behind his shoulder came Mr。
Fentolin's still； soft voice。 There was a little click； and Meekins；
as though obeying an unseen gesture； stepped back。 Mr。 Fentolin
glided on to the threshold。 He was still dressed。 He propelled his
chair a few yards down the corridor and beckoned them to approach。
〃I am so sorry；〃 he said softly； 〃that you should have been
disturbed； Mr。 Hamel。 We have been a little anxious about our
mysterious guest。 Doctor Sarson fetched me an hour ago。 He
discovered that it was necessary to perform a very slight operation；
merely the extraction of a splinter of wood。 It is all over now；
and I think that he will do very well。〃
Notwithstanding this very plausible explanation； Hamel was conscious
of the remains of an uneasiness which he scarcely knew how to put
into words。
〃It was a most distressing cry；〃 he observed doubtfully； 〃a cry of
fear as well as of pain。〃
〃Poor fellow！〃 Mr。 Fentolin remarked compassionately。 〃I am afraid
that for a moment or two he must have suffered acutely。 Doctor
Sarson is very clever； however； and there is no doubt that what
he did was for the best。 His opinion is that by to…morrow morning
there will be a marvellous change。 Good night； Mr。 Hamel。 I am
quite sure that you will not be disturbed again。〃
Hamel neither felt nor showed any disposition to depart。
〃Mr。 Fentolin；〃 he said； 〃I hope that you will not think that I am
officious or in any way abusing your hospitality； but I cannot help
suggesting that as Dr。 Sarson is purely your household physician；
the relatives of this man Dunster might be better satisfied if some
second opinion were called in。 Might I suggest that you telephone
to Norwich for a surgeon？〃
Mr。 Fentolin showed no signs of displeasure。 He was silent for a
moment； as though considering the matter。
〃I am not at all sure； Mr。 Hamel； that you are not right；〃 he
admitted frankly。 〃I believe that the case is quite a simple one；
but on the other hand it would perhaps be more satisfactory to have
an outside opinion。 If Mr。 Dunster is not conscious in the morning；
we will telephone to the Norwich Infirmary。〃
〃I think it would be advisable；〃 Hamel agreed。
〃Good night！〃 Mr。 Fentolin said once more。 I am sorry that your
rest has been disturbed。〃
Hamel； however； still refused to take the hint。 His eyes were fixed
upon that closed door。
〃Mr。 Fentolin；〃 he asked； 〃have you any objection to my seeing Mr。
Dunster？〃
There was a moment's intense silence。 A sudden light had burned in
Mr。 Fentolin's eyes。 His fingers gripped the side of his chair。
Yet when he spoke there were no signs of anger in his tone。 It was
a marvellous effort of self…control。
〃There is no reason； Mr。 Hamel；〃 he said； 〃why your curiosity should
not be gratified。 Knock softly at the door； Gerald。〃
The boy obeyed。 In a moment or two Doctor Sarson appeared on the
threshold。
〃Our guest； Mr。 Hamel；〃 Mr。 Fentolin explained in a whisper； 〃has
been awakened by this poor fellow's cry。 He would like to see him
for a moment。〃
Doctor Sarson opened the door。 They all passed in on tiptoe。 The
doctor led the way towards the bed upon which Mr。 Dunster was lying；
quite still。 His head was bandaged； and his eyes closed。 His face
was ghastly。 Gerald gave vent to a little muttered exclamation。
Mr。 Fentolin turned to him。 quickly。
〃Gerald！〃
The boy stood still； trembling； speechless。 Mr。 Fentolin's eyes
were riveted upon him。 The doctor was standing； still and dark； a
motionless image。
〃Is he asleep？〃 Hamel asked。
〃He is under the influence of a mild anaesthetic；〃 Doctor Sarson
explained。 〃He is doing very well。 His case is quite simple。 By
to…morrow morning he will be able to sit up and walk about if he
wishes to。〃
Hamel looked steadily at the figure upon the bed。 Mr。 Dunster's
breathing was regular； and his eyes were closed； but his colour was
ghastly。
〃He doesn't look like getting up for a good many days to come；〃
Hamel observed。
The doctor led the way towards the door。
〃The man has a fine constitution；〃 he said。 〃I feel sure that if
you wish you will be able to talk to him to…morrow。〃
They separated outside in the passage。 Mr。 Fentolin bade his guest
a somewhat restrained good night； and Gerald mounted the staircase
to his room。 Hamel； however； had scarcely reached his door before
Gerald reappeared。 He had descended the stair…case at the other
end of the corridor。 He stood for a moment looking down the passage。
The doors were all closed。 Even the light had been extinguished。
〃May I come in for a moment； please？〃 he whispered。
Hamel nodded。
〃With pleasure！ Come in and have a cigarette if you will。 I shan't
feel like sleep for some time。〃
They entered the room； and Gerald threw himself into an easy…chair
near the window。 Hamel wheeled up another chair and produced a box
of cigarettes。
〃Queer thing your dropping across that fellow in the way you did；〃
he remarked。 〃Just shows how one may disappear from the world
altogether； and no one be a bit the wiser。〃
The boy was sitting with folded arms。 His expression was one of
deep gloom。
〃I only wish I'd never brought him here；〃 he muttered。 〃I ought
to have known better。〃
Hamel raised his eyebrows。 〃Isn't he as well off here as anywhere
else？〃
〃Do you think that he is？〃 Gerald demanded； looking across at Hamel。
There was a brief silence。
〃We can scarcely do your uncle the injustice；〃 Hamel remarked； 〃of
imagining that he can possibly have any reason or any desire to deal
with that man except as a guest。〃
〃Do you really believe that？〃 Gerald asked。
Hamel rose to his feet。
〃Look here； young man；〃 he said； 〃this is getting serious。 You and
I are at cross…purposes。 If you like； you shall have the truth
from me。〃
〃Go on。〃
〃I was warned about your uncle before I came down